महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-136, verse-153

तस्मान्नाहं चले स्वार्थात्सुस्थितः संधिविग्रहे ।
अभ्राणामिव रूपाणि विकुर्वन्ति क्षणे क्षणे ॥१५३॥

153. tasmānnāhaṁ cale svārthātsusthitaḥ saṁdhivigrahe ,
abhrāṇāmiva rūpāṇi vikurvanti kṣaṇe kṣaṇe.

153. tasmāt na aham cale svārthāt susthitaḥ sandhivigrahe
abhrāṇām iva rūpāṇi vikurvanti kṣaṇe kṣaṇe

153. aham tasmāt svārthāt na cale.
sandhivigrahe susthitaḥ.
hi abhrāṇām rūpāṇi iva kṣaṇe kṣaṇe vikurvanti.

153. Therefore, I shall not deviate from my self-interest, remaining steadfast whether in making peace treaties (sandhi) or engaging in war (vigraha). For, just like the forms of clouds, circumstances constantly change moment by moment.

Words meanings summery:

• तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore, from that

• न (na) - not, no

• अहम् (aham) - I

• चले (cale) - I should move, I should waver, I should deviate

• स्वार्थात् (svārthāt) - from one's own purpose, from self-interest

• सुस्थितः (susthitaḥ) - well-placed, firmly established, steadfast

• सन्धिविग्रहे (sandhivigrahe) - in peace and war, in alliance and conflict

• अभ्राणाम् (abhrāṇām) - of clouds

• इव (iva) - like, as, as it were

• रूपाणि (rūpāṇi) - forms, shapes, appearances

• विकुर्वन्ति (vikurvanti) - they change, they modify, they alter

• क्षणे (kṣaṇe) - in a moment, at an instant

• क्षणे (kṣaṇe) - in a moment, at an instant

Words meanings and morphology

तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore, from that

(pronoun)

Ablative, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Note: Often used as an indeclinable meaning 'therefore'.

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

अहम् (aham) - I

(pronoun)

Nominative, singular of asmad

asmad - I, we

चले (cale) - I should move, I should waver, I should deviate

(verb)

1st person , singular, active, optative (vidhi liṅ) of cal

root verb

Root: cal (class 1)

Note: Potential/Optative mood, first person singular.

स्वार्थात् (svārthāt) - from one's own purpose, from self-interest

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of svārtha

svārtha - one's own object/purpose, self-interest

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (sva+artha)

• sva – own, one's own
  pronoun
• artha – purpose, object, meaning, wealth
  noun (masculine)

सुस्थितः (susthitaḥ) - well-placed, firmly established, steadfast

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of susthita

susthita - well-placed, firm, steadfast, thriving

Past Passive Participle

su (prefix) + stha (root) + kta (suffix)

Compound type : prādi-samāsa (su+sthita)

• su – good, well, excellent
  indeclinable
• sthita – standing, situated, established
  adjective
  Past Passive Participle
  Root sthā 'to stand' with kta suffix
  Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Refers to the subject 'aham'.

सन्धिविग्रहे (sandhivigrahe) - in peace and war, in alliance and conflict

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of sandhivigraha

sandhivigraha - peace and war, alliance and conflict

Compound type : dvandva (sandhi+vigraha)

• sandhi – junction, union, peace, treaty
  noun (masculine)
• vigraha – separation, conflict, war
  noun (masculine)
  Prefix: vi
  Root: grah (class 9)

Note: Often treated as a single concept in political science (rājyasandhi-vigraha).

अभ्राणाम् (abhrāṇām) - of clouds

(noun)

Genitive, neuter, plural of abhra

abhra - cloud, sky

इव (iva) - like, as, as it were

(indeclinable)

रूपाणि (rūpāṇi) - forms, shapes, appearances

(noun)

neuter, plural of rūpa

rūpa - form, shape, appearance, beauty

Note: Here, nominative plural, subject of vikurvanti.

विकुर्वन्ति (vikurvanti) - they change, they modify, they alter

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, present (laṭ) of vikṛ

root kṛ with prefix vi

Prefix: vi

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Subject 'rūpāṇi' implies 'forms' or 'things' are changing.

क्षणे (kṣaṇe) - in a moment, at an instant

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of kṣaṇa

kṣaṇa - moment, instant, leisure

क्षणे (kṣaṇe) - in a moment, at an instant

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of kṣaṇa

kṣaṇa - moment, instant, leisure

Note: Used with the preceding 'kṣaṇe' to denote 'moment by moment' or 'constantly'.